2. Manna issue 91 - The Family Altar 家庭祭壇
Aun Quek Chin—Singapore 新加坡 Aun Quek Chin
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children,
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
when you walk by the way, when you lie down,
and when you rise up.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand,
and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
(Deut 6:6–9)
6我今日所吩咐你的話都要記在心上，
7也要殷勤教訓你的兒女。無論你坐在家裡，行在路上，躺下，起來，都要談論。
8也要繫在手上為記號，戴在額上為經文；
9又要寫在你房屋的門框上，並你的城門上。
(申 6：6-9)
Moses exhorted God's people to put His words into their hearts
and conscientiously teach them to their children.
Binding His words as a sign on their hands
and frontlets between their eyes was a reminder not to transgress God's word in thought or deed.
Writing the words of God on their doorposts and gates
emphasized observance of God's word both inside and outside the home.
Today, while there is no need to write the words of God on our doorposts literally,
we must still teach them in our homes.
The best way to do this is by building the family altar,
establishing a time for all in the household to read the Bible, sing hymns, and pray together.
During this time, everyone in the family should put aside non-faith-related matters
and share God's word to encourage one another.
Such an altar will please God and be blessed by Him.
摩西勸告神的百姓，要把祂的話放在心裡，
並且認真教給自已的孩子。
將祂的話繫在手上和兩眼之間的額飾，作為記號，
提醒人們不要在思想行為上，違背神的話語。
將神的話寫在門框和城門上，
強調不論出門或在家，都要遵守神的話語。
今天，雖然沒有必要將神的話話，直接逐字寫在門柱上，
我們仍必須在家中教導傳授。
實行最好的方法，就是建造家庭祭壇，
為全家的人保留一段時間，讓大家一起閱讀聖經、唱讚美詩和禱告。
在這段時間裡，家裡每個人都應該把與信仰無關的事情放在一邊，
並彼此分享神的話語，以相互鼓勵。
這樣的祭壇會取悅神，蒙神祝福。
The Bible records four family altars we can learn from, as we build our own.
當我們要建造自已的家庭祭壇時，聖經記錄了四個家庭我們可以學習，
1. ADAM'S FAMILY ALTAR: PASSING DOWN THE FAITH 亞當的家庭祭壇：傳承信仰
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts;
and through it he being dead still speaks.
(Heb 11:4)
4亞伯因著信，獻祭與神，比該隱所獻的更美，
因此便得了稱義的見證，就是神指他禮物作的見證。
他雖然死了，卻因這信，仍舊說話。
(來 11：4)
Offering sacrifices was not something Abel invented.
It had been taught to him by his parents.
After Adam and Eve sinned, they became conscious and ashamed of their nakedness.
In His mercy, God instructed them to kill a lamb and use its skin to cover their shame
—the first sacrifice.
Learning of this from his parents,
Abel accepted this practice, which perhaps influenced his career choice of shepherding.
Humankind did not begin to consume meat until after the flood
(Gen 9:3).
So Abel tended sheep, not for food,
but likely as sacrifices to be offered to God.
Today we believe that the Lord Jesus is the Lamb of Atonement.
To avail ourselves and our household of God's salvation grace given through Jesus,
we must build a family altar of faith.
獻祭不是亞伯發明的。
這是他父母教給他的。
亞當和夏娃犯罪之後，他們意識到自己赤身露體，並且感到羞恥。
由於神的憐憫，祂指示他們殺死一隻羔羊，並用羊皮來遮掩他們的恥辱，
—第一個犧牲。
從父母那裡學會這件事，
亞伯接受了這種做法，這件事亦可能影響了他成為牧羊人的職業選擇。
洪水過後，人類才開始吃肉
（創 9：3）。
所以亞伯牧羊，不是為了食物，
但很可能為了作為祭品獻給神。
今天我們相信，主耶穌是贖罪的羔羊。
為使我們和家人，受益於神通過耶穌所賜的救贖恩典，
我們必須建立一個信仰的家庭祭壇。
[W]hen I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you,
which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice,
and I am persuaded is in you also.
(2 Tim 1:5)
5想到你心裡無偽之信，
這信是先在你外祖母羅以和你母親友尼基心裡的，
我深信也在你的心裡。
(提後 1：5)
Paul commended Timothy's faith and nurtured its growth.
But before Paul appeared in Timothy's life,
how had Timothy's faith been established and built up?
Paul testified that faith was passed down from Timothy's grandmother to his mother and subsequently to him.
The passing on of faith from one generation to the next is fundamental.
While the church plays a vital role in nurturing faith,
the primary seedbed is within the family.
Therefore, we should prioritize the cultivation of our personal faith
and that of our family by building our family altar of faith.
保羅稱讚提摩太的信心，並培育它的成長。
但在保羅出現在提摩太之前，
提摩太的信心是如何建立起來的？
保羅作證說，信心是從提摩太的祖母傳給他的母親，再傳給他的。
信仰從一代傳給下一代是根本。
雖然教會在培養信仰方面發揮著至關重要的作用，
主要苗床在家庭內部。
因此，我們應該優先培養我們的個人信仰
通過建立我們的家庭信仰祭壇來為我們的家庭建立信仰。
Some people say,
"My children are too young" or
"My children have too much homework,
and we're so tired from work.
There's no time for a family altar."
What is an altar?
It is a place on which sacrifices are offered.
If our faith is essential to us,
we must firmly set aside time for it.
We willingly expend our time on various things
—some may be worth the sacrifice,
but others turn out to be worthless, leaving us tired and empty.
Time spent on the family altar may cause us to feel tired,
but we would definitely not feel empty,
for we are spending time in communion with eternity.
有人說，
“我的孩子還小了”或
“我的孩子作業太多了，
我們工作太累了。
沒有時間實行家庭祭壇。”
什麼是祭壇？
這是一個獻祭的地方。
如果我們信仰自已感到至關重要，
就必須堅定留出時間。
我們樂意把時間消耗在各種事情上，
—有些事可能值得消耗的損失，
但其他的事卻是一文不值，只會讓我們感到疲倦空虛。
花時間在家庭祭壇，可能會讓我們感到疲倦，
但我們絕對不會感到空虛，
因為我們是花時間與永生團契。
Time spent on eternity is never wasted
because our eternal God will remember and reward us for the time we spend on and for Him.
If we esteem our relationship with the Almighty God and heavenly Father, He reciprocates.
When God sees how we prioritize our family altar despite the busyness of our lives,
the sacrifices we make will be pleasing and acceptable to Him.
Blessings will follow
(Mt 6:33).
Conversely, time spent on other temporal matters will ultimately be futile,
no matter how exciting they may be.
花費時間於永生的事上，永遠不會浪費，
因為我們永生的神會紀念獎勵，我們為祂花費的時間。
如果我們重視自已與全能真神天父的關係，祂就會報答。
當神看見我們在忙碌的生活中，如何優先考慮家庭祭壇的時候，
我們付出的犧牲會蒙神悅納。
祝福會隨之而來
（太 6：33）。
相反的，花在其他世俗問題的時間，終將白忙一場，
無論事情有多麼令人興奮。
How much time do we spend connecting with eternity?
How many of the things we do today will last till eternity?
If we want to optimize our time on earth,
then spend time establishing the family altar.
我們花了多少時間來連結永生呢？
我們今日所做的事，有多少會持續永恆呢？
如果我們想要善用自已地上的時間，
那麼就花時間建立家庭祭壇。
2. NOAH'S FAMILY ALTAR: THANKSGIVING 挪亞的家庭祭壇：感恩
Then Noah built an altar to the LORD,
and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird,
and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma.
Then the LORD said in His heart,
"I will never again curse the ground for man's sake,
although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth;
nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done."
(Gen 8:20–21)
20挪亞為耶和華築了一座壇，拿各類潔淨的牲畜、飛鳥獻在壇上為燔祭。
21耶和華聞那馨香之氣，就心裡說：
我不再因人的緣故咒詛地（人從小時心裡懷著惡念），
也不再按著我才行的滅各種的活物了。
（創 8：20-21）
Noah's family was saved from the flood.
Coming out of the ark,
Noah led his family to set up an altar to give thanks for God's grace.
挪亞一家從洪水中得救。
從方舟出來，
挪亞帶領家人設立祭壇，感謝神的恩典。
Today we have been redeemed by God,
and our families are more blessed than in the past.
But has our thanksgiving increased to match?
Sometimes, people do not sincerely give thanks
because they attribute their success to personal skill and diligence rather than God's grace.
We can see this from history.
Moses warned the Israelites against being lifted in their hearts
when their riches multiplied in Canaan
(Deut 8:11–18).
He exhorted them to remember that their wealth was due not to their diligence but to God,
who gave them life and the opportunity to gain wealth.
Without health or life, diligence is meaningless.
Hence, we ought to constantly give thanks to God for giving us life
and the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
今天我們被神救贖，
我們的家庭比過去更加幸福。
但是我們感恩之心相對增加與之匹配了嗎？？
有時候，人們並不是誠心感謝，
因為他們將自己的成功，歸功於個人技巧和勤奮，而不是神的恩典。
我們可以從歷史中看到這一點。
摩西警告以色列人，不要自已心高氣傲，
當他們迦南的財富增加時，
（申 8：11-18）。
他勸勉他們，要記住自已的財富增加，不是由於自已勤奮，而是出於神，
神給了他們生命和獲得財富的機會。
若沒有健康和生命，勤奮將沒有意義。
因此，我們應該時常感謝神，賜給我們生命，
以及享受自已勞碌成果的機會。
Noah built an altar to thank God for providence and protection.
The family altar serves to remind our families to give thanks to God for all we have.
During family celebrations
—birthdays, school achievements, work successes
—or when we are delivered from harm,
do we put aside time to give thanks to God wholeheartedly?
挪亞築了一座壇，感謝神的眷顧和保護。
家庭祭壇提醒我們的家人，為自已所擁有的一切感謝神。
有家庭慶祝活動的時候
—生日、學業好成績、工作好成就，
—或者當我們得蒙拯救脫離傷害的時候，
我們有沒有抽出時間，全心全意地感謝神呢？
The family altar is also a valuable platform for us
to show appreciation to our family members
and acknowledge that their help and support were integral to our success.
God sustains us by giving us parents who nurture us.
When we are prospering,
besides offering thanks for God's grace,
let us also recognize our family members' quiet and unwavering efforts.
家壇對我們來說，也是一個寶貴的平台，
向家人表達感謝，
並承認他們的幫助支持，是我們成功的一部分。
神通過賞賜育養我們的父母，來支持我們。
當我們興旺發達的時候，
除了感謝神的恩典之外，
讓我們也認清家人默默堅定不移的努力付出。
3. ABRAHAM'S FAMILY ALTAR: TRUST IN GOD'S GUIDANCE 亞伯拉罕的家庭祭壇：信靠神的帶領
Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son,
and all their possessions that they had gathered,
and the people whom they had acquired in Haran,
and they departed to go to the land of Canaan.
So they came to the land of Canaan.
Abram passed through the land of Shechem,
as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh.
And the Canaanites were then in the land.
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said,
"To your descendants I will give this land."
And there he built an altar to the LORD,
who had appeared to him.
(Gen 12:5–7)
5亞伯蘭將他妻子撒萊和姪兒羅得，
連他們在哈蘭所積蓄的財物、
所得的人口，都帶往迦南地去。
他們就到了迦南地。
6亞伯蘭經過那地，到了示劍地方、
摩利橡樹那裡。
那時迦南人住在那地。
7耶和華向亞伯蘭顯現，說：
我要把這地賜給你的後裔。
亞伯蘭就在那裡為向他顯現的耶和華築了一座壇。
(創 12：5-7)
Abraham believed in God,
and heeded God's call to lead his family out of the land of Ur.
Leaving their home for a strange and unknown place,
they may have felt helpless, frightened, and alone.
God knew what Abraham was experiencing and so appeared to him.
He affirmed His promise that,
even though Abraham was living in an unfamiliar place with no kinsmen,
God was with him.
Abraham was comforted and encouraged.
But he realized that, besides being personally assured,
he had to lead his family members to trust in God amid their respective weaknesses, worries, and loneliness.
They, too, needed to know that God was with them.
This was why he built the altar to the Lord.
Today, we must build such a family altar to demonstrate that we need God's abidance.
亞伯拉罕信神，
並聽從神的呼召，帶領他的家庭離開吾珥之地。
離開家到陌生未知的地方，
他們可能感到無助、害怕和孤獨。
神知道亞伯拉罕正在經歷什麼，因此向他顯現。
他確認了應許，
儘管亞伯拉罕生活在一個陌生的地方，沒有親人，
神與他同在。
亞伯拉罕得到安慰和鼓勵。
但他意識到，除了自已放心之外，
他還要帶領家人，在各自的軟弱、憂慮和孤獨之中信靠神。
他們也需要知道，神與他們同在。
這就是他為耶和華建造祭壇的原因。
今日，我們必須建立這樣的家庭祭壇，表明自已需要神的同在。
Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labour in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
(Ps 127:1)
1若不是耶和華建造房屋，
建造的人就枉然勞力；
若不是耶和華看守城池，
看守的人就枉然警醒。
(詩 127：1)
This verse clearly describes human limitations and God's limitlessness.
We may be able to construct our dream house but may not have a happy family, despite our efforts.
Far too often, a big beautiful house is filled with an ocean of regret.
Observers may envy the owners for the opulence of their possessions,
but the beauty only serves to mask the pain and tears.
這節經文清楚地描述了，人的局限及神的無限。
我們也許可以建造自已夢想的房屋，但或許沒有一個幸福的家庭，儘管我們努力。
很多時候，一座漂亮的大房子裡，充滿了遺憾的大海。
旁人可能會嫉妒擁有者的財富，
但是只能用外面的美麗遮掩內部的痛苦和眼淚。
We strive to watch over every family member and worry over their spiritual setbacks,
but we can do little to ensure the preservation of their well-being and faith.
If our family members fall away in their faith,
we can only pray for them.
We cannot always watch over them,
but our God watches all the time.
Hence, we must appeal to God for His preservation, guidance, and help in our weakness
—that we can still rejoice in our sorrow,
and that our prodigal family members can return from their wanderings.
我們努力照顧每位家人，擔心他們的靈性的挫折，
但我們很少能確保維護他們的幸福和信仰。
如果我們的家人背棄了信仰，
我們只能為他們禱告。
我們不能無時無刻看住他們，
但我們的神隨時都看顧。
因此，我們必須祈求神的保守、引導，軟弱時幫助我們，
—讓我們仍然可在悲傷中感到喜樂，
這樣我們的浪子家人，可以自流浪中回歸。
The present generation is a rebellious one.
However, they may not see their actions as rebellion
but as merely exercising their rights to self-expression and freedom.
They are thus unaware that their acts of freedom and self-expression could hurt others.
For example, when they backslide in faith or go astray,
they still think they are on the right path, although they bring much grief to those who love them.
現今世代是叛逆的年代。
但是，他們可能不會將自己的行為視為背逆，
而僅是行使他們的自我表達和自由權利。
因此，他們不知道自已的自由和自我表達行為，可能會傷害他人。
例如，當他們在信仰墮落誤入歧途之時，
他們仍認為自己走在正確的道路上，儘管他們給疼愛他們的人，帶來了很多悲傷。
Some parents blame society for corrupting their children
and blame the church for not teaching their children well.
But Sabbath is only one day of the week.
Where have these parents taken their children on the other six days?
Attending service and religious education (RE) classes only takes a few hours.
What are we encouraging our children to do for the rest of the hours left in the week?
一些父母指責社會帶壞了他們的孩子，
並責怪教會，沒有好好教導他們的孩子。
但是一周裡，安息日僅有一天。
這些父母在剩下的六天裡，把孩子帶去了哪裡呢？
參加聚會和宗教教育 (RE) 課程，只會花費幾個小時。
我們鼓勵自已的孩子，在週間其他的時間裡做什麼事呢？
In short, societal influence on our children is inevitable.
Preachers and RE teachers play vital roles in mitigating adverse social trends on our children,
and we ask God to imbue them with His wisdom.
However, much of our children's time is spent at home.
Parents cannot rely on the two hours of RE lessons in church for their children's religious upbringing.
They must shoulder most of the responsibility.
簡而言之，社會對我們孩子的影響，是不可避免的。
傳道和宗教教育老師，在消除孩子社會不良趨勢的方面，發揮很重要的作用，
我們祈求神將祂的智慧灌輸給他們。
然而，我們孩子的大部分時間，都在家裡度過。
父母不能依賴教會宗教教育的兩個小時課程，就能培養出孩子的宗教信仰。
他們必須承擔大部分的責任。
Learn from Abraham in setting up an altar of trust in God's guidance;
lead our family to do the same.
Seeing how parents give their faith the highest priority,
even the most rebellious children would recognize this effort
and understand how much their parents care for their faith.
Knowing their parents' concern would help these children restrain themselves from sin.
Even if they do not repent immediately,
they know they should.
Eventually, the family altar will affect the restoration of their faith.
向亞伯拉罕學習，建立信靠神帶導的祭壇；
帶領我們的家人也這樣做。
看到父母如何把他們的信仰，放在首位，
即使是最叛逆的孩子，也會認同這種努力，
並了解他們的父母，是多麼關心他們的信仰。
了解父母的擔憂，會幫助這些孩子克制自己遠離罪惡。
即使他們不會立即悔改，
他們知道自已應該這樣做。
最終，家庭祭壇會影響他們信仰的復興。
4. JOB'S FAMILY ALTAR: SEEKING GOD'S FORGIVENESS 約伯的家庭祭壇：尋求神的饒恕
So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course,
that Job would send and sanctify them,
and he would rise early in the morning
and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all.
For Job said,
"It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts."
Thus Job did regularly.
(Job 1:5)
5筵宴的日子過了，
約伯打發人去叫他們自潔。
他清早起來，
按著他們眾人的數目獻燔祭；
因為他說：
恐怕我兒子犯了罪，心中棄掉神。
約伯常常這樣行。
(伯 1：5)
Job set up the family altar for his children.
He was well aware of their weaknesses.
In fact, every parent knows what his or her child is like,
having lived with and observed each child from birth.
Parents know their children's character, strengths, and weaknesses
and how they may transgress the word of God.
Job was worried that his fear might become a reality.
He did not set up a family altar only when his children sinned
—he set it up lest his children sin and curse God.
Job did this regularly,
and his children would have been well aware of his serious worry over the possibility of them sinning.
They knew he was interceding for them, seeking forgiveness from God,
even before any sin was committed.
Even if they did not verbally express their gratitude,
they would have been moved.
We need to set up the family altar of Job because we and our children have weaknesses,
and we need the word of God to guide us,
lest we go astray.
約伯為他的孩子設立了家庭祭壇。
他很清楚他們的弱點。
事實上，每個父母都知道他們孩子是什麼樣子的，
從出生開始，就與每個孩子一起生活並看著他們。
父母知道孩子的性格、長處和短處，
以及他們會如何違背神的話語。
約伯擔心他的恐懼會成為現實。
他並沒有在孩子犯罪時，才設立家庭祭壇，
—他設置祭壇，以免他的孩子們犯罪詛咒神。
約伯經常這樣做，
他的孩子們清楚他對他們可能犯罪的嚴重擔憂。
他們知道約劈會為他們代禱，尋求神的寬恕，
甚至在任何犯罪之前。
即使他們沒有口頭表達他們的感謝，
他們會被感動的。
我們需要建立約伯的家庭祭壇，因為我們和孩子都有軟弱，
我們需要神的話來引導我們，
以免我們誤入歧途。
When we advise our children, their immediate reaction may be to ignore us.
Our advice and encouragement may appear to fall on deaf ears.
But these words have been sown in their hearts.
When they wander astray, these loving reminders will come to mind.
At the very least, it would make them pause and consider if they should continue on this path or repent.
If we, as parents, have not advised them,
there would be nothing to make them stop and think.
Children would interpret their parents' silence as a lack of concern about their backsliding;
they would conclude that faith is unimportant and continue to do as they wish.
When we know our children have sinned,
we must find an opportune time to talk to them about it.
The family altar can be such an opportunity
—it is a time and place for all to encourage each other with God’s word.
當我們勸告孩子的時候，他們直接的反應可能是忽略我們。
我們的建議和鼓勵似乎被置之不理。
但這些話已經種在他們的心田。
當他們誤入歧途之時，這些愛的提醒會浮現在腦海中。
至少，這會讓他們停下來，考慮是否應該繼續走這條路或悔改。
如果我們身為父母，沒有給他們建議，
就沒有什麼可以讓他們停下來思考了。
孩子會把父母的沉默，解釋為對他們的墮落毫不關心；
他們會推論，認為信仰不重要，並繼續為所欲為。
當我們知道自已的孩子犯了罪，
就必須找一個合適的時間，與他們討論這件事。
家庭祭壇就有這樣的機會，
—這是大家用神的道理，互相勉勵的時間和場所。
The word of God is indeed a critical element in the family altar.
If a family member has stumbled,
we use God’s word to encourage them to repent.
If a family member is feeling sad,
we use God’s word to comfort them.
Sometimes there is nothing we can do to help,
especially regarding matters of the heart,
which is why we need the word of God.
If our family members face problems,
this time can be used to encourage them not to keep things locked up in their hearts.
Although we may not be able to solve the problem, at the very least,
we can share the burden and pray about it together.
神的話語，確實是家庭祭壇中的重要元素。
若有家人跌倒了，
我們用神的話語來勉勵他們悔改。
如果家人感到傷心，
我們用神的話來安慰他們。
有時我們無能為力，
尤其有心事的時候，
這就是為什麼我們需要神的話語。
如果我們家人遇到了問題，
這段時間可以用來鼓勵他們，不要把事情藏在心理。
雖然我們可能無法解決問題，但至少，
我們可以分擔重擔，並一起為此祈禱。
CONCLUSION: STAYING STRONG TOGETHER 結論：一起保持剛強
Home is a place where we can experience great happiness but also much sadness.
We love our family members dearly,
but we may also argue with them.
There are times we trust one another and times we do not.
But if every family member exalts God as the center of his or her life,
we will learn to forgive and accept one another just as He has forgiven us.
Then the family will be able to love one another amid the inadvertent conflicts or inevitable storms of life.
But if God is not the center of our lives,
the home becomes a battlefield where we fight fiercely to protect our self-interests,
or a hotel where we share a roof but stay separate in our rooms,
not sharing with each other what we are going through.
家是一個場所，我們會體驗到巨大的幸福方，也可以體驗到很多悲傷。
我們深愛自已的家人，
但我們也可能與他們爭論。
有時我們會彼此信任，有時我們互不信任。
但如果每個家人都能高舉神，作為他們生活的中心，
我們將學會寬恕和接受彼此，就像神饒恕了我們一樣。
那麼一家人生活中，若遇到疏忽的衝突，或是不可避免的風暴時，還能彼此相愛。
但如果神不是我們生活的中心，
家成了戰場，變成我們為了維護自己利益而猛烈奮戰的場所，
或者成為旅店，雖然我們同在一個屋簷下，但是分居於各自房間里，
不會互相分享自已現在遇到的事情。
The family altar is critical as it reminds us to keep God
—the Source of love
—as the center of our homes.
Let us learn from Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Job
to set up the family altar of faith, thanksgiving, trust in God's guidance and forgiveness,
so that our entire family may be guided to receive God's blessings.
家庭祭壇很重要，因為它會提醒我們要把神作為
—愛的源頭
—作為我們家的中心。
讓我們向亞當、挪亞、亞伯拉罕和約伯學習
建立信仰、感恩、信靠神引導和寬恕的家庭祭壇，
好讓我們全家都得到引導，領受神的祝福。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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